Centering device for forging-presses.



W. FERRIER.

CENTERING DEVICE FOR FORGING PRBSSES APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, 1910.

1,036,206, Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNES$E8 INVENTOR Wa'Jmet W FREEZER.

:RING DEVI CENT CE FOR EURGIJG PRESSES.

APPLICAIIOF FILED DEG.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES W guide or support 15 regulate and control the strokeof the rack and through the connecting mechanism the amount of movementof the centering arms 7. Lock nuts 17 are provided on each screw 16 tosecure and maintain the screws in their adjusted position. The inletopenings on the opposite ends of the fluid pressure cylinder 12 areconnected by means of supply pipes 19 and 19 through a suitableoperating valve with a source of fluid pressure supply by which thepiston of the cylinder is actuated to move the swinging arms 7 into andout of their operative position. In the drawings the blank is shown inits centered position with the axis of the blank and die in alinementand with the rollers 8 on the arms 7 in engagement with the blank in theposition assumed in centering the blank.

In the operation of my improved apparatus the blank is placed in the dier'ecess or upon the face of the forging:- die by means of tongs or othersuitable mechanism being placed in an approximately central position.Fluid pressure is then admitted through the pipe 19 into the cylinder 12so as to cause the piston 13 to move into the position shown in Fig. 1.\Vhen the piston is advancing into this position the annular rack 10 iscaused to rotate through a part of a revolution and through themutilated gears 9 and shafts 6 cause the arms 7 to move in unison towarda common center correspondmg to the axial center of the bottom die 2 andanvil 4. In such movement one or more of the arms 7. is brought intocontact with the periphery of and moves the blank 3 sidewise until allof the anti-friction rollers 8 are in contact with the periphery of theblank. When all of the arms are brought into contact with the blank theblank will have been shifted sidewise upon the face of the die until theaxial centers of the blank and the forging die coincide and are invertical alinement. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the pipe 19connected to the inlet on the other end of the cylinder 12 and thepiston 13 is moved from the position shown until the end of theadjusting screw 16 is in engagement with the stop 18 on one end of therack guide. WVhen the piston has moved the rack so as to bring thisadjusting screw into engagement with the stop 18 all of the arms 7 willhave been swung outwardly until they occupy the relative position showndotted by 7, 7 which is out of the path of the descending top die of theforging press. The top die 15 then caused to descend to carry out theforging operations and the forming of the blank in the die 2 into awheel completed, and the above described operations are repeated fromtime to time as often as reqiilired with successive blanks in forgingthe blanks into wheels or other articles being formed.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart. The apparatus is simple and is easily kept in repair. By its usethe blanks are mechanically moved by power mea s so as to be ac curatelycentered in the recess or on the face of the forging die and the makingof defective wheels due to inaccurate centering is avoided and overcome.The provision of the power cylinder for operating the centering arms ofthe centering deviceinsures that the blanks will be quickly andaccurately centered in position for the forging operation and delayscaused by the shifting back and forth found necessary to evenappr0ximately center the blanks manually are overcome and avoided. Byproviding the stops and adjusting screws the amount of movement giventhe outer end of the pivoted.arms 7 can be regulated and adjusted tosuit blanks of various diameters or widths.

While I have described my invention as applied to a hydraulic forgingpress, ob- VlOIISlX'lt is equally applicable to a steam hammer or othertype of forging apparatus and is adapted for use in centering blanksformed into articles other than forged car wheels.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts may bemade Without departing from my invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim 1. In a forging press. a centering device having a plurality ofpivoted arms located at separated points about the periphery of thebottom die face of said press and arranged to swing into and out ofengagement with a blank placed upon said die face in moving the blankinto vertical axial al1n e- I ment with the die face, shafts to whichsaid arms are secured having a mutilated spur gear wheel on one endthereof, a gear wheel having teeth meshing with the teeth of saidmutilated gears, and power means for OSClllating the gear to move thearms into and out of engagement with the blanks.

2. In a forging press. a centering device having a plurality of pivotedarms located at separated points about the periphery of the bottom dieface of said press and arranged to s'wing into and out of engage mentwith a blank placed upon said die face in moving the blank into verticalaxial alinement with the die face, shafts to which said arms are securedhaving a mutilated gear wheel on one end thereof, an annular gear wheelencircling the die of said press having teeth meshing with the teeth ofsaid mutilated gear wheels, a rack having teeth meshing with the teethof said annular gear wheel for actuating said wheel, and a fluidpressure cylinder for pperatingtthe rack.

3. In a forging press, a centering device aving a plurality of pivotedarms located at separated points about the peripheryof the bottom dieface of said press and arranged to swing into engagement with a blankplaced upon said die face in moving said blank into vertical axialalinement with the die face, shafts to which said arms are securedhaving a mutilated gear wheel on one end thereof, an annular gear wheelencircling the die of said press having teeth meshing with the teeth ofsaid mutilated gear wheels, a rack having teeth meshing with the teethof said annular gear wheel for i actuating said gear wheel, and means onsaid rack for adjusting its stroke to vary the range of movement of therack and said arms.

4. In a forging press, a blank centering device comprising incombination a pluralit; of swinging arms having one end there- 0 blanksidewise into vertical axial alinement w1th the die face of said forgingpress, means for swinging said arms simultaneously through arcs of equalextent, power arranged to contact with and move a means for actuatingsaid arm moving means, I

and adjusting means whereby the movement of said owe'r means isadjustedto vary the are 0 movement of said arms.

5. In a forging press, a centeri device comprising in combination movabe arms adapted to enga e with a blank placed upon the bottom die 0 saidforging ress to move the blank sidewise into axial a inement with saiddie, mechanism for actuating said arms in unison to move the blank,power means ,operatively connected to and actuating s'aid arm movingmechanism, a stop, and adjusting mechanism on said power means engagingwith said stop to limit the movement of said said power means and armmoving mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER FERRIER.

Witnesses:

W. H. BAILEY,

V. PORTINLR.

